Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-02-19
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18th, 1888

The sensation of the past week on
Capitol Hill was the Presidents veto
of one of the most reckless specimens
of legislation that was ever presented
to any Congress 1.-THE Universal
Pension hill." Not that his action
was surprise to those who have
watched his course in regard to pen
sion matters, for he has shown on
several occasions already that he has
the courage to do his duty. But as
Representative Springer said, no man
ever filled the Office of President be-
fore Mr.. Cleveland, who would have
had the boldness to veto such a bill
which had passed both Houses of
Congress by more than two-thirds
majority, and which had so powerful
a sentiment at the back of it.
Echoes of congratulation have been
coming back to the President from all
parts of the country, and he has heard
plenty ofcensure from the mere parti-
sans who have learned to regard the
war as their personal legacy. But he
will have the praise, approval and
gratitude of the great mass of the
people of all sections, the taX-paying
civilian and the honest veteran, of all
true patriots both of the North and
South.
The reading of the Presidents mes
sage explaining his reasons for the
veto commanded close attention from
the House of Representatives.
Many Congressman are now unable
to say what their future action will
be until they have heard from their
constituents. 1t was thought, how
ever, that the bill could not be passed
over the veto, for many members
who voted for it have been surprised
since at the condemnation it received
from people among all parties.
Should this remarkable pension bill
become a law, it would givea pension
to every ex-Union soldier who can
not earn the sort of living he would
like-in other words, to every man
who was in the Federal army and is
yet alive. 1t would give pension tC
every drunkard and shiftless loafel
who was in the army for ninety days
even if his disability is due solely tC
his own vices. 1t would give a pre-
MUM to mendicancy and Incidence
for nothing convinces a man that he
is unable to work like showing hin
that he can live without it.
And then think the millions aftel
millions of the peoples money thai
such a bill would waste. 1t would
double the pension burden of the
United States, making it $4,000, 0O(
year. 1t would make the roll cal
of pensioners larger than the Fedora
army ever was and four times a.
large as the whole standing army O
England.
The Republican members of Con
gress have made but little common
upon the subject. The veto message
seems to have taken their breath
Rep. Stalnecker, of N. Y, thinks thu
message is the ablest state paper O
Mr.. Cleveland's term. Said he, 81
takes up the bill, section by section
and just tears it to tatters. In stating
his reasons for the veto, he has bull
a fort around him which it will b,
pretty difficult to Storm"
A western congressman, who wa
speaking of the Presidents courag
said, "my admiration for him wa
never great until now. He has turn
ed his face against a sentiment befor
which all parties have bowed, and j
he is sustained by Congress, this Incl
dent may be the turning point of
popular reaction against the abuse G
the whole pension business"
Another enthusiast over the Presi
dents pluck said, at is the creates
and the best thing that Clevelan,
ever did. 1t required just such a MAJ
as he to put a firm foot down agains
a system of legislation which threat
ened to swamp this Government.
Representative Oates of Alabama
remarked that this veto would max
the South solid again.
Indeed there was no limit to thi
pension business and there appeare
to be nobody with courage enough t
say where it should stop. Of cours
the President has not fixed a fina
limit to this kind of pernicious legi:
lation, but he has shown himse
equal to the situation. He has draw
the attention of the country to tn